December 23, 2005

Cell phones for your 5-year-old

What kind of cellphone is best for a 5-year-old?

Millions of parents think that parent-child separations occur almost every day, brought about by play dates, after-school activities, getting lost at the mall, parents working late and the shuttling between divorced spouses. In these situations, a cellphone could be a nerve-calming lifeline.

But not a traditional cellphone. Security is one reason; you don't want heavy-breathing strangers calling them up and luring them to shadowy places. Complexity is another; goodness knows there are plenty of adults who find modern cellphones overwhelming.

And then there's the service cost.The New York Times reviews and compares cell phones to help parents choose the best handset for their youngest.